Formula Pacific

Formula Pacific was a motor racing category which was used in the Pacific Basin area from 1977 to 1982. It specified a single-seat, open-wheeler chassis powered by a production-based four-cylinder engine of under 1600cc capacity.[1] The formula was based on Formula Atlantic, with provision made for the use of Japanese engines.[2] The category was superseded in 1983 by Formula Mondial, which was devised by the FIA to replace both Formula Atlantic and Formula Pacific.

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New Zealand staged the first ever races for Formula Pacific cars in January 1977 [2] having abandoned Formula 5000 and moved to the new formula in that year.[3] The category continued there until Formula Mondial was introduced in 1983.[4]

Formula Pacific was adopted as part of Australian Formula 1 alongside the 5-litre Formula 5000 class in 1979 and it became the sole component of Australian Formula 1 in 1982. Formula Mondial was adopted as the new Australian Formula 1 in 1983 however cars complying with Formula Pacific would continue to compete alongside the new cars until the end of that year.[5]